Compare towns
Middlefield vs Lee vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlefield has the highest household income ($104k).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Peru has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Middlefield | Lee | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 352Lowest |
5,719Highest |
630 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
52.6±4.8Lowest 32% above MA |
| Middlefield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Peru and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.7%±8.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,750±$23kHighest about the MA average |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$90,750±$18k 13% below MA |
| Middlefield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
$352,700±$19kHighest 37% below MA |
$267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
| Lee and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
— |
| Middlefield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,926Highest 18% below MA |
$3,980 34% below MA |
$3,805Lowest 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lee and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #209 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Lee | — |
| High school in town | — | Lee Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.